Bombers list manager Adrian Dodoro told NAB AFL Trade Radio on Wednesday that the club had not wavered in its approach to secure the Saints' draft pick No.5 as part of the deal.

"There was no way we were going to budge at all," Dodoro said.

"If we weren't going to get (pick) 5, then we wouldn't have done the trade, it's as simple as that."

The combined points from those picks (1177 points) mean the Swans will take more points to the draft to use on their academy prospect Callum Mills and potential father-son selection Josh Dunkley than they would have if they had hung on to selection No.14 (1161 points).

Dodoro said he believed Carlisle seemed destined to join the Hawks up until yesterday afternoon.

"I actually thought up until two o'clock yesterday he was going to the Hawks, to be honest, but the Saints pulled out another card," Dodoro said.

"I think Jake was wavering between the two (teams) … but there's no doubt it could've been either way and I'm genuine in that."

That proposal was acceptable to the Bombers but Carlisle, 24, stuck to his original commitment to cross to the Saints, provided they could deliver a deal acceptable to the Bombers before Thursday's trade deadline.

The Swans' involvement became the deal-breaker, with the Sydney club chasing points to secure its academy graduates under the AFL's new academy bidding system.